The Incidence and Risk Factors of Urinary Tract Infection in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Using SGLT2 Inhibitors: A Real-World Observational Study

Background: The incidence and risk of urinary tract infection (UTI) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who use sodium glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are still controversial. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the incidence and risk factors of using SGLT2 inhibitors, particularly in Thai patients. Methods: Electronic medication records of all patients, who started the treatment of T2DM between 1 January 2019 and 30 June 2021 at a tertiary hospital in Thailand, were reviewed. The patients were divided into SGLT2 inhibitor and non-SGLT2 inhibitor groups to compare the incidence of UTI. Results: The overall incidence rate of UTI was 33.49% in the SGLT2 inhibitor group and 11.72% in the non-SGLT2 inhibitor group. The incidence rates of UTI were not different between dapagliflozin and empagliflozin treatment (34.00% and 33.03%, respectively). Patients treated with SGLT2 inhibitors had a 3.70 higher risk of UTI compared with those treated with non-SGLT2 inhibitors (95%CI 2.60-5.29). Moreover, the significant risk factors for UTI found in this study were gender, age, and occupation. Conclusions: This study highlighted the high incidence of UTI in patients using dapagliflozin and empagliflozin compared with non-SGLT2 inhibitors. Additionally, patients of female gender and older age had a significantly higher risk of UTI when treated with SGLT2 inhibitors, whereas those with permanent jobs had a lower risk.